The next Yu Darvish?

Japan's starter Masahiro Tanaka delivers a pitch against Taiwan in the second inning of their charity baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Saturday, March 10, 2012, on the eve of the anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

/ AP

Japan's starter Masahiro Tanaka delivers a pitch against Taiwan in the second inning of their charity baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Saturday, March 10, 2012, on the eve of the anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi)

Japan's starter Masahiro Tanaka delivers a pitch against Taiwan in the second inning of their charity baseball game at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Saturday, March 10, 2012, on the eve of the anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. (AP Photo/Toru Takahashi) (/ AP)

Then you aren’t looking at the bigger picture. Rather, you aren’t looking at the whole map.

The Angels are. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Arte Moreno’s crew – desperate for pitching – had a scout in Japan to watch Masahiro Tanaka, a 24-year-old right-hander who is 20-0 with a 1.24 ERA, 155 strikeouts and 27 walks in 181 innings this year for the Rakuten Eagles.

Armed with a 94 mph fastball, sharp slider and a splitter, the right-handed Tanaka isn’t quite in Yu Darvish’s class, but he has the ability to be a No. 2 or 3 pitcher, according to the L.A. Times’ sources:

“I don't think he has the creativity and the multiple weapons of Darvish, but (Hiroki) Kuroda is a really good comparison. He has three good pitches, and his splitter is a legitimate out pitch."

Of course, Tanaka won’t be cheap. He’ll likely command at least $25 million or more just to obtain the rights from Rakuten – who is expected to post him – to negotiate a deal.

Look for as much attention this hot-stove season on Tanaka than where Matt Garza, A.J. Burnett, Ervin Santana and Kuroda end up. Probably more given Darvish’s early success in America.